Verse:
Isaiah 65:1
I am sought (seek / darash) of them that asked not for me; I am found of them that sought (seek / baqash) me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, unto a nation that was not called by my name.
Commentary by Adam Clarke
Verse 1. I am sought of them that asked not for me "I am made known to those that asked not for me" Source
nidrashti, ??????? ????????, the Septuagint, Alexandrian, and St. Paul, Romans 10:20; who has however inverted the order of the phrases, ??????? ???????, "I was made manifest," and ???????, "I was found," from that which they have in the Septuagint. nidrashti means, "I am sought so as to be found." Vitringa. If this be the true meaning of the word, then shaalu, "that asked," which follows, should seem defective, the verb wanting its object: but two MSS., one of them ancient, have shealuni,"asked me;" and another MS. shealu li, "asked for me;" one or other of which seems to be right. But Cocceius in Lex., and Vitringa in his translation, render nidrashti, by "I have answered;" and so the verb is rendered by all the ancient Versions in Ezekiel 20:3,31. If this be right, the translation will be, "I have answered those that asked not." I leave this to the reader's judgment; but have followed in my translation the Septuagint and St. Paul, and the MSS. above mentioned. bikeshuni is written regularly and fully in above a hundred MSS. and in the oldest edition, bikeshuni.-L.
Commentary by Coffman
Kidner understood the first two verses here as, "An answer to the complaint of Isa. 63:19." This, of course does not deny the application of the passage to the call of the Gentiles (Romans 10:20). There is also an answer to the complaint of Isa. 64:9 that God has "hidden his face," making himself hard to find. As McGuiggan noted, "Why, God had even been found by people who did not even ask for him ." No, the problem lay not with God but with the Jews.
Hailey also observed that there is also an answer to the plea of Israel that they are "all" God's people. This is capable of two different meanings, both of which are erroneous: (1) that Israel constituted the totality of God's people, and (2) that all of the fleshly nation were indeed the people of God. Neither proposition was true, except in the rather loose sense that God created all men. Hailey wrote: "Jehovah's reply is that he is rejecting them (Israel)," and that the Gentiles will also be called as God's people.
Source
Commentary by Geneva Study Bible
65:1 I am sought by [them that] a asked not [for me]; I am found by [them that] sought me not: I said, Behold me, behold me, to a nation [that] was not called by my name. Source
(a) Meaning, the Gentiles who know not God, would seek him, when he had moved their heart with his Holy Spirit, (Romans 10:20).
Romans 10:20
And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
Commentary by David Guzik
. The immediate answer: The LORD will indeed bless His genuine servants.
1. (1-7) The LORD sees the shallow repentance of the remnant.
I was sought by those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. I said, "Here I am, here I am," to a nation that was not called by My name. I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts; a people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face; who sacrifice in gardens, and burn incense on altars of brick; who sit among the graves, and spend the night in the tombs; who eat swine's flesh, and the broth of abominable things is in their vessels; who say, "Keep to yourself, do not come near me, for I am holier than you!" These are smoke in My nostrils, a fire that burns all the day. "Behold, it is written before Me: I will not keep silence, but will repay; even repay into their bosom; your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together," says the LORD, "Who have burned incense on the mountains and blasphemed Me on the hills; therefore I will measure their former work into their bosom."
a. Isaiah 63:7 through 64:12 is the prayer of the remnant, voiced through the prophet Isaiah. It is one of the most beautiful and moving prayers in the Bible. Yet it does not seem to be representative of the heart of the Jewish exiles in Babylon. Here, God speaks to that heart, a heart with a shallow repentance.
b. I was sought by those who did not ask for Me: The Jewish exiles in Babylon were examples of those who did ask for the LORD; but they would not find Him, because for the most part they sought Him insincerely. Yet, God would be found by those who did not seek Him - namely, the Gentiles.c. I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people: It wasn't that the LORD had ignored the Jewish exiles in Babylon, and other like them. He stretched out His hands all day long to them. Some responded (like Daniel, or like the one prophetically praying in Isaiah 63:7 through 64:12), but most were a rebellious people.
i. Paul quotes this passage in Romans 10:20-21: But Isaiah is very bold and says: "I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me." But to Israel he says: "All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people." These were bold words indeed from Isaiah, "so bold, say Origen and others, that for this cause, among others, he was sawn asunder by his unworthy countrymen." (Trapp)
d. Who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts: This defines what it is to be a rebellious people - simply, to walk in a way . . . according to their own thoughts. To trust in our own wisdom, our own judgment, our own thinking, is to be among the rebellious people.Source
i. This idea is repeated in several different places in Scripture. The phrase in the book of Judges that characterized the wickedness of that age shows it: everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 17:6, Judges 21:25). Proverbs expresses the idea like this: There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12, Proverbs 16:25). To live according to their own thoughts may sound like freedom, but really it is bondage. God's solution to living according to our own thoughts is revealed in Romans 12:2, to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Judges 17:6 Judges 21:25
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Proverbs 14:12
In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit. Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.Romans 12:2
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but in the end it leads to death.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Commentary by Jamieson, Fausset, Brown
Isa 65:1-25. GOD'S REPLY IN JUSTIFICATION OF HIS DEALINGS WITH ISRAEL.
In Isa 64:9, their plea was, "we are all Thy people." In answer, God declares that others (Gentiles) would be taken into covenant with Him, while His ancient people would be rejected. The Jews were slow to believe this; hence Paul says (Ro 10:20) that Isaiah was "very bold" in advancing so unpopular a sentiment; he implies what Paul states (Ro 2:28; Ro 9:6, 7; Ro 11:1-31), that "they are not all (in opposition to the Jews' plea, Isa 64:9) Israel which are of Israel." God's reason for so severely dealing with Israel is not changeableness in Him, but sin in them (Isa 65:2-7). Yet the whole nation shall not be destroyed, but only the wicked; a remnant shall be saved (Isa 65:8-10, 11-16). There shall be, finally, universal blessedness to Israel, such as they had prayed for (Isa 65:17-25).1. I am sought
Isa 64:9 Ro 10:20
Do not be angry beyond measure, O LORD ;
do not remember our sins forever.
Oh, look upon us, we pray,
for we are all your people.Ro 2:28
And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."Ro 9:6
A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. Ro 11:1-31
It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel.
1 I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don't you know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah--how he appealed to God against Israel:
3 "Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me" ?
4 And what was God's answer to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal."
5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
7 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,
8 as it is written:
"God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes so that they could not see
and ears so that they could not hear,
to this very day."
9 And David says:
"May their table become a snare and a trap,
a stumbling block and a retribution for them.
10 May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see,
and their backs be bent forever."
11 Again I ask: Did they stumble so as to fall beyond recovery? Not at all! Rather, because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious.
12 But if their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their fullness bring!
13 I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry
14 in the hope that I may somehow arouse my own people to envy and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.
17 If some of the branches have been broken off, and you, though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root,
18 do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in."
20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be afraid.
21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.
22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.
23 And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 After all, if you were cut out of an olive tree that is wild by nature, and contrary to nature were grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much more readily will these, the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree!
25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:
"The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
27 And this is my covenant with them
when I take away their sins."
28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs,
29 for God's gifts and his call are irrevocable.
30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience,
31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God's mercy to you.found
Hebrew, "I have granted access unto Me to them," &c. (so Eze 14:3, "Should I be inquired of"; Eph 2:18).
Eze 14:3 Eph 2:18
"Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Behold me
Ro 10:20 renders this, "I was made manifest." As an instance of the sentiment in the clause, "I am sought," &c., see Joh 12:21; of the sentiment in this clause, Ac 9:5. Compare as to the Gentile converts, Eph 2:12, 13.
Ro 10:20 Joh 12:21
And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."Ac 9:5
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. "Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." Eph 2:12, 13
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.nation ... not called by my name
Isa 45:22
"Turn to me and be saved,
all you ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.Source
that is, the Gentiles. God retorts in their own words (Isa 63:19) that their plea as being exclusively "called by His name" will not avail, for God's gospel invitation is not so exclusive (Ro 9:25; Ro 1:16).
Isa 63:19 Ro 9:25
We are yours from of old;
but you have not ruled over them,
they have not been called by your name.Ro 1:16
As he says in Hosea:
"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"
I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
Commentary by John Gill
Ver. 1. I am sought of them that asked not for me Source
That this is a Isaiah 65:2
I have spread out mine hands all the day unto a rebellious peoplewhich walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;
Meaning Israel, as the apostle explains it, (Romans 10:21) , whom he calls a "disobedient and gainsaying people"; who believed not in Christ, obeyed not his Gospel, but contradicted and blasphemed it; and were rebellious against him, would not have him to reign over them, nor submit to his ordinances; though he most affectionately invited them, earnestly pressed and urged them, and that daily and frequently, to attend his ministry; and used all human methods to gain audience of them, and acceptance with them, but all to no purpose; see (Matthew 23:37) , they remained obstinate and inflexible, and so they did under the ministry of his apostles; for, notwithstanding their ill usage of him, he ordered the Gospel to be first preached to them, as it was, till they treated it with such indignity and contempt, that the apostles turned away from them to the Gentiles, as they were bid; see (Acts 13:46,47) . The Targum is,
``I sent my prophets every day''
in their own way, of their own devising, choosing, and approving, and which was a wicked one; and after their own imaginations and inventions; after the traditions of the elders the doctrines and commandments of men; and after a righteousness of their own, which they sought by the works of the law, and so submitted not to, but rejected the righteousness of Christ.
Commentary by John Wesley
I am, &c. Sought
This in the primary sense of this text, is a prophecy of the conversion of the Gentiles, upon the rejection of the Jews; for their contempt and crucifying of Christ, cannot be doubted by any, who will not arrogate to themselves a greater ability to interpret the prophesies of the Old Testament, than St. Paul had, who, Romans 10:20, expressly so interprets it, and applies it, which shews the vanity of the Jews in their other interpretations of it.
Romans 10:20
And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."Asked not
The word signifies properly a diligent enquiry in things relating to God. I said
That in times past made no enquiry after me; l am now found by them that formerly sought me not. Source
I invited whole nations by the preaching of my gospel to behold me, and that with importunity, doubling my words upon them, and this I did unto a nation not called by my name, with whom I was not in covenant.
Commentary by Matthew Henry
The apostle Paul (an expositor we may depend upon) has given us the true sense of these verses, and told us what was the event they pointed at and were fulfilled in, namely, the calling in of the Gentiles and the rejection of the Jews, by the preaching of the gospel, Romans 10:20,21. And he observes that herein Esaias is very bold, not only in foretelling a thing so improbable ever to be brought about, but in foretelling it to the Jews, who would take it as a gross affront to their nation, and therein Moses's words would be made good (Deuteronomy 32:21), I will provoke you to jealousy by those that are no people. I. It is here foretold that the Gentiles, who had been afar off, should be made nigh, Isaiah 65:1. Paul reads it thus: I was found of those that sought me not; I was made manifest to those that asked not for me. Observe what a wonderful and blessed change was made with them and how they were surprised into it.
Romans 10:20,21 Deuteronomy 32:21
20 And Isaiah boldly says,
"I was found by those who did not seek me;
I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."
21 But concerning Israel he says,
"All day long I have held out my hands
to a disobedient and obstinate people."
They made me jealous by what is no god
and angered me with their worthless idols.
I will make them envious by those who are not a people;
I will make them angry by a nation that has no understanding.Source
1. Those who had long been without God in the world shall now be set a seeking him; those who had not said, Where is God my maker? shall now begin to enquire after him. Neither they nor their fathers had called upon his name, but either lived without prayer or prayed to stocks and stones, the work of men's hands. But now they shall be baptized and call on the name of the Lord, Acts 2:21. With what pleasure does the great God here speak of his being sought unto, and how does he glory in it, especially by those who in time past had not asked for him! For there is joy in heaven over great sinners who repent. 2. God shall anticipate their prayers with his blessings: I am found of those that sought me not. This happy acquaintance and correspondence between God and the Gentile world began on his side; they came to know God because they were known of him (Galatians 4:9), to seek God and find him because they were first sought and found of him. Though in after-communion God is found of those that seek him (Proverbs 8:17), yet in the first conversion he is found of those that seek him not; for therefore we love him because he first loved us. The design of the bounty of common providence to them was that they might seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him and find him, Acts 17:27. But they sought him not; still he was to them an unknown God, and yet God was found of them.
Acts 2:21
And everyone who calls
on the name of the Lord will be saved.'3. God gave the advantages of a divine revelation to those who had never made a profession of religion: I said, Behold me, behold me (gave them a sight of me and invited them to take the comfort and benefit of it) to those who were not called by my name, as the Jews for many ages had been. When the apostles went about from place to place, preaching the gospel, this was the substance of what they preached: "Behold God, behold him, turn towards him, fix the eyes of your minds upon him, acquaint yourselves with him, admire him, adore him; look off from your idols that you have made, and look upon the living God who made you." Christ in them said, Behold me, behold me with an eye of faith; look unto me, and be you saved. And this was said to those that had long been lo-ammi, and lo-ruhamah (Hosea 1:8,9), not a people, and that had not obtained mercy, Romans 9:25,26.
Galatians 4:9 Proverbs 8:17
But now that you know God--or rather are known by God--how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? Acts 17:27
I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
Hosea 1:8,9 Romans 9:25,26
After she had weaned Lo-Ruhamah, Gomer had another son.
Then the LORD said, "Call him Lo-Ammi, for you are not my people, and I am not your God.
As he says in Hosea:
"I will call them 'my people' who are not my people;
and I will call her 'my loved one' who is not my loved one,"
and,
"It will happen that in the very place where it was said to them,
'You are not my people,'
they will be called 'sons of the living God.' "
About Commentary Authors
Prepared by William C. Barman for George Young Memorial United Methodist Church -- Palm Harbor, FL on 9/15/03; 2:13:58 PM